Pneumatic stock cleaner



Oct. 21, 1930. HECKMAN PNEUMATIC STOCK CLEANER Filed April 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 21, 1930. M. HECKMAN I 1,779,129

PNEUMATIC STOCK 'CLEQNER Filed April 18, .1525 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 21, 1930 MARTIN HEC KMAN, SCHOFIELD, WISCONSIN PNEUMATIC s'rocx CLEANER Application filediApril 18, 1925. Serial No. 24,188.

This invention relates to'pneumatic stock Figure 2 is a'sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. p I r j Figure 3 is anenlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 isa detail of the exhaust connection.

The device is preferably portable, as illustrated in the drawings, although it is'to be understood that it may be permanently fixed, if desired. Further, it is to be noted that although any type of motor may be used, that the inventionhas been disclosed as employing an internal combustion engine for the motor.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a portable frame 1 provided with a transverse front axle which carries a pair of wheels 2. The rear portion of the device is preferably provided with supporting legs 3 and with rigid sockets 4 adapted to receive the manipulating handle 5, such handle conveniently being of U- shape and having a transverse rear portion 6, as-shown in Figure 1.

In rolling the device into position, the rear end is lifted by suitably elevating the handle and the device is readily pushed into place.

When the weight is again placed upon therear legs 3 the device is.retainedin place against inadvertent rolling motion. The

frame 1 carries a motor 7 which, in the form shown, is an internal combustion engine. This invention has itsexhaust pipe 8 extending transversel and then upwardly adjacent the handle; It is preferably secured to the handle by means of a clip 9 to secure oFFi'c the requisite rigidity and support for the I pipe.

It is to be noted from Figures 1 and 4 that the upper end of the exhaust pipe 8 is connected by meansof a universal joint 10 with a short, section 11. v This section 11 telescopically carries a similar section12. .The section 12 is provided with a fitting 13 for a purposehereinafterto appear. I This fitting 13 'isalso joined to the section 12 by means of a universal joint 14, as most clearly shown in Figure 4. The fitting 13 is" adapted to slip over the lower end of a pipe 15 carried by an exhaustheader 16. Preferably, the pipe 15 is provided with. a bead 17 over which the springarms 18 of thefitting'13' are adapted to be snapped. Itis intendedthat the exhaust header 18 be carried by suitable hangers 19 (see Figurej'l),

and that it extend the full length of the barn. Preferably, this exhaust header-'is.

provided with a pluralityof pipes 15 upon any one of which'the exhaust pipe isadapted tobe fastened. I

The front end of the frame orxcarriage 1: carries the housing 20 of a centrifugal fan 21, such fan being preferablydirectly connected to the motor7, as shown'inFige ure 1. The exhaust portion ofthisfani cass ing is enlarged, preferably merging-into an oval discharge hood .22. A pervioussack or bag 23 is removably connected to the dis charge portion 22, as shown in Figure 1. r

A convenient way of attaching .the .bagto the hood. 22 is to provide pins 41 secured to the reenforcing ring around the mouth of the bag and to provide outwardly slanting hooks 42 on the housing 22. If. desired, a handle 43 may be formed at the mouth of the bag and joined to one of the rfeenforcing rings. .-Thus in positioning the bag, it is merely necessary to bring it adjacent the mouth of the hood 22 and to slip the pins '41 into engagement with the hooks 42 and'pre'ss the mouth of the bag downwardly. The slanting hooks 42 force the mouth of the bag into abutting engagement with the mouth of the hood 22. The casing 20 ofthe, fan is: provi'ded with ,an inlet opening 24 (see Figures 1 and 3.) Thisinlet opening is provided with a plurality of notches 25 which receive the lugs 26 of a suction hood 27.

A locking ring 28 is provided with a pair of arcuate slots 29 through which screws 30 pass, such screws extending into the housing 20. The locking ring is provided with a plurality of notches 31 which may be aligned with the notches 25 of the housing to thus permit the insertion of the lugs 26. When the lugs are in place, the locking ring is rocked by means of the manipulating handle 32 (see Fig. 3) to lock the lugs 26 behind such ring and within the notches 25 of the housing.

It is to be noted from Figure 1 that the suction hood 27 is provided with a flange 33 which contacts with the ring 8 and prevents further inward motion of the hood. Thus it will be seen that a very simple looking means has been provided for rigidly locking the suction hood to the housing oi: the fan.

The suction hood tapers to a pipe receiving end 34 upon which a flexible hose 35 I is slipped. The other end of this hose is slipped upon the extended portion 36 ot a cleaning tool 37. Preferably, this tool is provided with a curry brush 38 which is adapted for grooming of stock.

In using the device, the portable apparatus is readily pushed or rolledto the desired point. Thereafter the legs 3 are rested upon the floor and the exhaust pipe 8 of the motor aligned with one of the pipes 15 of the exhaust header. Thereafter, the fitting 13 is slipped on to the pipe 15, the spring arms 18 snapping over the bead 17 of the pipe and thus retaining the exhaust pipe in proper connection with the exhaust header.

It is to be noted that the universal joints 10 and 1a together with the telescopic portion of the pipe extension aid materially in this connecting operation. The engine is then started and the brush or cleaning tool is applied to the animal. The brush may be used in the usual manner with the assurance that particles of loose hair and dirt will be drawn from the hair of the animal. This cleaning operation takes place simultaneously with the brushing of the animal, and a very rapid and effective cleaning can be had.

It is preferable to provide a clip 39 upon the rear end of the bag 23. This clip 39 is apertured and is received upon a pin or upon the extended portion i0 of a clamping bolt for the clip 9. In this manner sagging of the bag is prevented and the correct positioning of such collecting bag is assured at all times.

It will be seen, therefore, that a very simple type of pneumatic stock cleaning apparatus has been provided and that this apparatus may be' most readily operated even by an unskilled laborer to thoroughly clean and brush the animal.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is, therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

I claim- A portable stock cleaning device comprising, a motor driven suction fan having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion havinga plurality of notches and having a notched locking ring mounted thereon for limited motion, the notches in said ring being adapted to align temporarily with the notches in said inlet portion, a suction hood having a plurality of lugs, said lugs being adapted to iit within the notches in said inlet portion when the notches in said ring are aligned with those in the inlet portion, said ring being adapted for partial rotation to lock the lugs in the notches of said inlet portion, whereby said suction hood is connected directly to said inlet portion and retained in place by said locking ring, and an annular flange on the suction hood adapted to abut said locking ring to limit the inward movement of said hood.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Scholield, in the county 01 Marathon and State of Wisconsin.

MARTIN I-IE CKMAN. 

